Construction worker death inquest concludes

Jury recommends mentorships for young workers after death of 24-year-old Thunder Bay man

Gustavo Argueta, 24, died on June 24, 2011, from injuries received during the course of his employment inspecting the under-surface of a new bridge in the Thunder Bay District. The inquest, which concluded Wednesday, heard from about 15 witnesses. (Supplied )

Related Stories

A jury in Thunder Bay has come up with nine recommendations following the conclusion of an inquest into the death of a construction worker near Thunder Bay.

Gustavo Argueta, 24, died two years ago when the elevated work platform he was working on at the MacKenzie River bridge fell over.

Testimony at the inquest wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

The jury's recommendations were directed toward two provincial ministries, the Canadian Standards Association and the construction industry.

The recommendations include:

For the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities:

Develop and implement standardized, mandatory training that is specific to elevated work platforms, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. This should include training on the theoretical and practical operation of both the classes of machines and the specific machines used in the construction industry.

Base the training program on elevated work platforms on existing Canadian Standards Association standards, and on manufacturers operating procedures and best practices.

Develop regulations that require persons who are already certified on the competent operation of elevated work platforms be retrained and recertified after a defined period of time.

Develop regulations that require any training program developed by the MTCU for elevated work platforms be mandatory for workers and direct supervisors operating such elevated work platforms in the construction industry.

Develop regulations that deal with the documentation of elevated work platform inspections by operators prior to the initial use (on a daily basis).